§ 75. Mr. Simmonsasked the Minister of Pensions if, in considering the allocation of the £10,000,000 available for the purpose of improving the position of war pensioners, he will bear in mind the ageing war pensioner and the pensioner over 50 years of age with an amputated limb.
Mr. AmoryThese pensioners, in common with all war disablement pensioners, will benefit from the rise in the disablement pension rates recently announced.
§ 76. Sir I. Fraserasked the Minister of Pensions whether the allowance of 16s. per week at present paid for the wife of an unemployable disabled ex-Service man will now be assimilated to the rate of 21s. 6d. per week proposed for the wife of a retirement pensioner.
Mr. AmoryI propose to consider this matter when my right hon. Friend the Minister of National Insurance has worked out his proposals.
§ Sir I. Fraserasked the Minister of Pensions to what extent the basic pension payable to disabled non-commissioned officers, warrant officers and commissioned officers will be increased in view of the addition of 10s. per week now proposed in the standard basic pension.
Mr. AmoryThe increases in the case of non-commissioned officers (including warrant officers, class I) will be 10s. a week, the same as in the case of privates and equivalent ranks, and £25 a year in the case of commissioned officers, with proportionate amounts in each case for degrees of disablement below 100 per cent.
§ Sir I. Fraserasked the Minister of Pensions to what extent the basic allowance of 10s. per week at present paid for the wife of a disabled ex-Service man not in receipt of the unemployability supplement will be increased, in view of the universal rise in the standard basic rate for the war-disabled and industrially-injured and in all family allowances.
Mr. AmoryI do not consider that the recently announced increase of the standard basic rate of itself calls for an increase in the additional allowances, including wife's allowance.
194W
§ Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Pensions if he will state the number of pensioners in Wales who are in receipt of 100 per cent., 75 per cent., 50 per cent., and 20 per cent. disability pensions, respectively.